Quick Navigation
- How To Tell if Something Is Stuck in Your Dog’s Mouth
- Reasons Why Dogs Act Like Something Is Stuck in the Mouth
- 1. Something Is Stuck Beneath/In Between the Teeth of Your Dog
- 2. Something Is Stuck at the Roof of the Mouth of Your Dog
- 3. Dog Acts Like Something Is Stuck in Its Mouth Due to Dental Cavity
- 4. Your Dog Acts Like Something Is Stuck in Its Mouth Due to a Wound
- 5. Your Dog Acts Like Something Is Stuck in Its Mouth Because of a Broken Tooth
- 6. Infection
- What To Do When Something Is Stuck in Your Dog’s Mouth?
- How To Prevent Your Dog From Having Something Stuck in Its Mouth
- Summary
If your dog acts like something is stuck in its mouth, most likely, there is.
Occasionally dogs bend over and use their paws in a way that looks like the dog wants to remove something stuck in their mouth.
How To Tell if Something Is Stuck in Your Dog’s Mouth
It’s easy to notice when something is stuck in your dog’s mouth.
Sometimes dogs make choking sounds indicating something is stuck in the throat or mouth.
Choking sounds and the excessive use of paws on the mouth can be alarming and life-threatening.
It can also cause further damage to your dog’s mouth if left unattended.
Other signs include gagging sounds, excessing drooling, hacking cough, and trouble breathing.
Depending on the size of the object dislodged in your dog’s mouth, the severity might even lead to death.
If dogs are greedy during their meal time, they might also be prone to choking on their food.
There are naturally excessively greedy dog breeds, such as Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and Beagles.
Other breeds, such as Bulldogs and Pugs, might be vulnerable to choking too, because of their narrowed nostrils and reduced trachea.
You should watch out if you own one of these dog breeds.
Reasons Why Dogs Act Like Something Is Stuck in the Mouth
1. Something Is Stuck Beneath/In Between the Teeth of Your Dog
Dogs can be reckless now and then.
Even the best-behaved dogs, like the beagle, can express a level of excitement from time to time.
They could get excited when the dog is eating, grinding on a bone, or stuffing its mouth on any other object.
It leaves the dogs’ mouths vulnerable to splinters, small pieces of bone, or even strands of grass stuck between the teeth.
A common sign that something is stuck in a dog’s mouth is the consistent use of paws to remove that foreign substance.
Occasionally, using the paws can successfully remove the substance stuck in the dog’s mouth.
However, if the dog consistently uses the paws on its mouth, it could cause further damage to the dog’s mouth.
It could even leave the dog’s gums, tongue, or lips bleeding.
2. Something Is Stuck at the Roof of the Mouth of Your Dog
Reason #1 is related to this, but the difference is the location where the object is stuck.
It could be safe to assume something is stuck in the dog’s teeth because of its behavior.
However, without prejudice, one might not recognize the object is stuck to the roof of the dog’s mouth.
Notwithstanding, the kind of object, in this case, is related to objects that easily stick to the roof of the dog’s mouth.
It includes strands of hair, grass, or it could be an insect stuck to the roof of the dog’s mouth.
A clue that indicates the location of the stuck object is the direction in which the dog is pawing the mouth.
3. Dog Acts Like Something Is Stuck in Its Mouth Due to Dental Cavity
Another reason dogs keep acting like something is stuck in its mouth is that they have cavities.
One of the ways they could get dental cavities is through the food they eat.
Foods high in sugar, fermentable carbohydrates, or acidic content can easily make a dog susceptible to dental cavities.
The main reason behind dental cavities is the bacteria present in these foods.
If the bacteria stays too long between the dogs’ teeth, the bacteria could slowly erode the tooth’s enamel.
The intense discomfort caused by the cavities can make a dog use its paws to relieve the pain.
It might seem like there is something stuck in the dog’s mouth.
Dental cavities can also develop from the low part of the teeth and straight into the gums.
It can be caused by poor dental hygiene or poor diet.
4. Your Dog Acts Like Something Is Stuck in Its Mouth Due to a Wound
It is no secret that dogs love to chew on interesting objects.
These objects may be a twig or a sharp piece of bone.
The sharp pieces can get into the gum or any soft tissues in the mouth and cause soreness in the dog’s mouth.
However, accidents while chewing on sharp objects are not the only way dogs can get mouth injuries.
Mouth injuries can also happen when a dog accidentally falls on its mouth.
They can accidentally get injured during play fights with other animals or themselves (yes, they do that sometimes).
5. Your Dog Acts Like Something Is Stuck in Its Mouth Because of a Broken Tooth
Just like reason #4, accidents can also damage the dogs’ teeth.
Unlike wounds, broken teeth are more severe.
Wounds create sores on the soft tissues in the mouth, like the tongue or gum, and they can be healed quickly.
However, broken teeth can create intense discomfort, especially when eating.
The broken tooth can as well get stuck in the dog’s mouth.
If left untreated, the dog could sustain severe nerve damage, and it can easily introduce infections to the dog’s mouth.
If the dog shows signs of pain or discomfort when eating, the dog has likely sustained an injury.
It could either be a sore in the soft tissues or a broken tooth.
6. Infection
A dog’s mouth can get infected due to an allergic reaction or the aftermath of an injury.
Regardless, an infection could cause extreme discomfort to the dog’s mouth.
It could look like the dog has something stuck in the mouth, whereas it could be an infection.
Several infections can appear in a dog’s mouth. However, here are some common infections that are found in dogs:
Canine Stomatitis
Canine stomatitis is the inflammation of the mucous membrane of the canines’ oral cavity.
One of the signs includes inflamed sores on the gums, the roof surface of the mouth, and the surface where the lips and the teeth meet.
Canine Stomatitis occurs when the immune system weakens, and it can be excruciating for dogs if not taken care of.
Kennel Cough
Occasionally when dogs act like there is something stuck in their mouth, they tend to cough out.
The coughing is done as they try to remove the substance stuck in the dog’s mouth.
Although something might not be stuck in the dog’s mouth, in some cases, it can be a symptom of bronchitis.
Infectious bronchitis in dogs is also known as kennel cough.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a health condition that has to do with the inflammation of the gums in a canine.
The difference between Canine Stomatitis and Gingivitis is that Gingivitis deals with the inflammation of the gums.
Gingivitis is caused by bacterial infection, and the disease in its early form can be easily reversed.
What To Do When Something Is Stuck in Your Dog’s Mouth?
If substances or objects are found in a dog’s mouth, gently use a hand or tweezers to remove the stuck object.
If no objects are found between the teeth, check the roof and floor of the dog’s mouth.
The gums and the roof of the mouth should be checked for stuck objects and inflammation in the dog’s mouth.
The dog’s teeth should be brushed at least three times a week.
This proves beneficial to the dogs’ dental health because food debris will be cleared, and any future damage will be avoided.
While there are kinds of toothpaste and toothbrushes for dogs, you should not human toothpaste for your dog.
This is because human toothpaste contains xylitol, which can be lethal to a dog’s health.
If there are signs of inflammation or sores in the dog’s mouth, veterinarian assistance would be required.
Additional information and treatment procedures will be provided once the vet has performed a diagnosis.
How To Prevent Your Dog From Having Something Stuck in Its Mouth
As a responsible pet owner, you must ensure that you don’t leave small objects around, especially when your dog can easily access them.
Because if you leave them unsupervised, their curiosity might get the best of them.
At the same time, you must be careful about feeding your dog.
Avoid giving them chunks of food that are difficult to swallow.
Summary
The reason why dogs act like something is stuck in their mouth does vary.
It could be a sign of infection, dental cavities, or something stuck in the dog’s mouth.
Occasionally, the dog can stop acting like something is stuck in its mouth, and the dog can look completely fine.
It might not seem to be the case every time.
It is advisable to check the dog’s mouth for inflammation of soft tissues and foreign objects stuck in the mouth.
If left untreated, it can risk the dogs’ dental health.
Book an appointment with a veterinarian to check for anything that can put the dogs’ dental health at risk.
Zoey is a long-time pet owner and animal rights advocate, a vital part of Purrfect n’ Pawesome. She shares her unique experiences and learnings with her readers to enhance their understanding of pet behavior and nutrition. Along with being an active pet writer, she volunteers at multiple animal shelters, rescue centres with some bespokenly awesome pets.
Zoey has a lot to share when raising the pets and spending life being their true friends. She has a quite pampered Persian cat and a Ragdoll, whom she loves the most. Readout her blogs to know more about being a responsible parent to your beloved pets.
“I love to be around cats and dogs; that’s my passion and my trick to get away from all the negativity and soaking in unconditional love and affection. Being attached to this platform gives me the reason to be vocal about pet love, care, and nurturing. Although I am not an expert or veterinarian by any means, I have a lot of experience and learnings to share with my fellow readers.”
